How Irradiation Technology Will Boost Nigeria’s Food Preservation, Reduce Wastages of Farm Produce

Emma Okonji

A food communications analyst, based in the United Kingdom, Blessing Ikechukwu has stressed the importance of irradiation technology in preserving food, reducing waste and boosting food sustainability in Nigeria, if adequately adopted.

According to her, food is fundamental to life, and its preservation is crucial for keeping a healthy nation, adding that traditional methods such as canning, refrigeration, and drying have long been utilised to extend the shelf life.

She however said irradiation technology offers a modern alternative for food preservation, which involves applying ionising radiation to enhance safety and extend shelf life by reducing or eliminating harmful microorganisms and insects.

She described irradiation as a process where food is exposed to controlled amounts of ionising radiation, such as gamma rays, X-rays, or electron beams.

The treatment, according to Ikechukwu, effectively kills bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens that can cause spoilage and foodborne illnesses.

“Importantly, the process is completely safe; it doesn’t make the food radioactive, nor does it alter the taste, texture, or nutritional qualities of the food. Instead, it extends the shelf life of foods, helping to reduce waste and ensuring a safer food supply. Food loss and waste are critical issues in Nigeria, with the World Bank suggesting that approximately 40 per cent of the total food produced annually is lost due to spoilage and waste between harvest and consumption,” Ikechukwu said.

Recent research study has shown that farmers in Nigeria lose about 50 per cent of their farm produce and around 30 per cent of grains before they reach the market. Inadequate transport and storage facilities, often due to poor access to power, cold storage, and drying facilities, are major challenges.

This issue is particularly severe for perishable such as vegetables, fish, fruits, and staple crops like cassava, yams, maize, millet, and sorghum. With the nation’s population projected to double from 201 million today to around 400 million by 2050, and an increasingly urbanised population reaching approximately 70 per cent by the same year, food security concerns are expected to worsen. Additionally, according to the World Bank findings, over 15 per cent of Nigerians are undernourished, underscoring the need for effective solutions to reduce waste.

Ikechukwu, in a statement, where she analysed the opportunities around irradiation technology, insists that ionising radiation, or ‘cold’ sterilisation, remained a safe and high-tech method for food preservation, adding that more than sixty countries have approved its use, and that its safety and effectiveness are well-documented. Studies also indicate that the radioactivity of irradiated food is no higher than that of luggage after an airport scanner or teeth after an X-ray examination.

“Irradiation technology has become widely accepted as a proven and effective post-harvest treatment to reduce bacterial contamination, slow spoilage, and maintain food quality. The process prevents premature sprouting and ripening and acts as a phytosanitary treatment to control insect pests in fruits and vegetables.

“Food irradiation involves ionising radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, or high-energy electron beams. This method ensures that food remains ‘clean’ and inhibits spoilage, making it possible to keep food longer while ensuring a higher level of safety and quality. Additionally, irradiation is a viable pest control method, providing phytosanitary security for traded fresh produce by preventing insects and other pests from developing and reproducing.

“The irradiation process is closely monitored, with precise calculations of the energy and dose absorbed. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the World Health Organisation have confirmed the safety of this method,” Ikechukwu ascertained.

According to her, several countries on the African continent have successfully integrated food irradiation into their food preservation strategies, leading to significant reductions in food waste and enhanced food safety. She explained that before the implementation of food irradiation, post-harvest losses in South Africa’s fruit export sector were estimated to be around 20-25 per cent, primarily due to insect infestations and spoilage during transportation. She said after the adoption of irradiation technology, the losses have been reduced to less than 10 per cent. “In Ghana, post-harvest losses for yams, a staple food in the country, were previously as high as 30 per cent.

The losses were also largely due to pest infestations and spoilage during storage. After the introduction of irradiation technology by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the losses have been reduced to approximately 15 per cent,” Ikechukwu said.

She however explained that despite its potential, food irradiation technology was yet to gain widespread commercial traction in Nigeria. According to her, Nigeria has only one irradiation facility located at the Nuclear Technology Centre and the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission. “This limited availability presents a significant barrier to the technology’s adoption, making it difficult for potential users to access and implement irradiation methods. Typically, an irradiation centre can process up to 20,000 to 30,000 tons of food per year, but the limited number of facilities in Nigeria restricts the technology’s impact,” she said.

She is therefore worried why more attention has been given to increasing food production rather than addressing the significant losses occurring during the post-harvest and storage phases, a development, according to her, is prevalent in many developing countries, including Nigeria, where food crises driven by waste and spoilage are common.

“As Nigeria continues to confront food security and waste challenges, irradiation presents a valuable opportunity to improve food preservation and support long-term food sustainability,” Ikechukwu advised.